Dead (The)

From the acclaimed Oscar-winning director John Huston (The Maltese Falcon, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Misfits) comes a tale of lost-love and emotional paralysis in turn-of-the-century Ireland. Based on the celebrated short story by James Joyce (The Dead was the final story in his Dubliners collection) and starring John Huston’s daughter, Oscar-winner Anjelica Huston (Prizzi’s Honour, The Grifters, The Royal Tenenbaums) as Gretta Conroy, a country girl who has moved to the city of Dublin and married wealthy socialite Gabriel Conroy (Donal McCann – Out of Africa, The Nephew).

The couple attend a party celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany thrown by Gabriel’s aunts, Kate (Helena Carroll – Mother Teresa: In The Name of God’s Poor, The Friends of Eddie Coyle) and Julia Morkan (Troubles, The Love She Sought), and during it Gretta’s memory and passion is stirred as she listens to a rendition of The Lass of Aughrim. Remembering a brief and innocent romance from her youth which was tragically cut short by the boy’s death at the age of seventeen, she recalls their relationship to a shocked and saddened Gabriel.

The Dead was nominated for two Oscars following its release in 1987 – Best Screenplay based on material by another author and Best Costume Design for its eloquent depiction of Dublin in 1904.